Chapter 16     Of Good Works
    Section 1,2
     Good works are only such as God hath commanded in His holy Word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention.

       Micah 6:8; Rom. 12:2; Heb. 13:21; Matt. 15:9; Isa. 29:13; 1 Pet. 1:18; Rom. 10:2; John 16:2; 1 Sam. 15:21–23

 T    hese good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.

 James 2:18, 22; Ps. 116:12–13; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Pet. 1:5–10; 2 Cor. 9:2; Matt. 5:16; Titus 2:5, 9–12; 1 Tim.6:1;
1 Pet. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:12; Phil. 1:11; John 15:8;  Eph. 2:10;  Rom. 6:22.

Section 3
     Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. And that they may be enabled thereunto, beside the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will, and to do, of His good pleasure: yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.

  John 15:4–6; Ezek. 36:26–27; Phil. 2:13; 4:13; 2 Cor. 3:5;  Phil. 2:12; Heb. 6:11–12; 2 Pet. 1:3, 5, 10–11; Isa. 64:7;
  2 Tim. 1:6; Acts 26:6–7; Jude 20–21.

Section 4,5,6
     They who, in their obedience, attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.

   Luke 17:10; Neh. 13:22; Job 9:2–3; Gal 5:17.

     We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom, by them, we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins, but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants: and because, as they are good, they proceed from His Spirit; and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment.

 Rom. 3:20; 4:2, 4, 6; Eph. 2:8–9; Tit. 3:5–7; Rom. 8:18; Ps. 16:2; Job 22:2–3; 35:7–8;  Luke 17:10;
 Gal. 5:22–23; Isa. 64:6; Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:15, 18; Ps. 143:2; 130:3.

    Notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in Him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreproveable in God's sight; but that He, looking upon them in His Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.

 Eph. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:5; Exod 28:38; Gen. 4:4; Heb. 11:4.; Job 9:20; Ps. 143:2; Heb. 13:20–21; 2 Cor. 8:12;   Heb. 6:10;
 Matt. 25:21, 23.

Section 7
     Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands; and of good use both to themselves and others: yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word; nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God: and yet, their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God.

 2 Ki. 10:30–31; 1 Ki. 21:27, 29; Phil. 1:15–16, 18; Gen. 4:5; Heb. 11:4, 6; 1 Cor. 13:3; Isa. 1:12; Matt. 6:2, 5, 16;
 Hag. 2:14; Tit. 1:15; Amos 5:21–22; Hosea 1:4; Rom. 9:16; Tit. 3:15; Ps. 14:4; 36:3;   Job 21:14–15;
 Matt. 25:41–43, 45; 23:3.

Question: What are 'good works'? ...Donation to Red Cross? Volunteering for the Boy Scouts.

     It is thought it is anything done from a heart of charity or kindness

Question: What is necessary for any work to be considered 'good' by biblical standards?

     It must be an act performed in conformity to God's revealed will.
     It must have it's root in faith and love in the heart
     It must reflect an obedience to God and His Word.

Read: Deut. 12:32; Rev. 22:18-19

Question: What are the results of doing these 'good works'?

     Believers show their thankfulness
     Strengthen their confidence on the Lord
     Edify/ build up other believers
     Make the presentation of the Gospel beautiful
     Stop the attacks of the ungodly
     Bring glory to God

Question: What about the good that unbelievers do? Is that not 'good works'?
                 What about their 'sincerity'?

     Unbelievers may do many actions, which seem good, they may even do works which, according to the Word of God are as He commands and are profitable to others. They may be sincere in their attempts to do good works, but, if they are alienated from God, if they are not trusting Him for their salvation and loving Him for providing it in Christ, then any work they do will not have the essential element which makes it a true obedience.

     Good works, according to the Scriptures, are the fruit of sanctification, having their root in regeneration.1 Unbelievers are not regenerate...born again...in Christ.

Read: Eph. 2:10; James 2:18,22; Rom. 14:23; Heb. 11:6; Isa. 64:6

Question: How is it that Believers can do 'good works' that are  good in Gods sight?

Read: John 15:4,5

     The Believer depends upon the continued indwelling, prompting, sustaining and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, in every act of obedience in the exercise of grace.  There is a cooperation of our will with the indwelling Spirit who influences not only our actions but our motives as well.

Question: What does 'supererogation' mean?

    To go above and beyond the call of duty or what is expected. To do all that is expected and more...Total obedience to the Will and Word of God in your lifetime.

Question: Is this possible? Can we ever achieve by good works more than God has required or expected?

    No. This would lead logically to a doctrine of perfection and this is not a biblical doctrine.

Question: Is it possible to do enough 'good works' that God will be obliged to pardon our sins and give us eternal life?

    No.

Read: Rom. 3:20; Rom. 4:2,4,6, Eph. 2:8-9; Ps. 16:2

Question: Why then are 'good works' accepted by God? What is the condition of acceptance?

     Union with Christ.
      -They are accepted because He is accepted by God
      -They are accepted because the Holy Spirit provokes and empowers the works to  make them good.

Chapter 17   The Perseverance of the Saints.

    They whom God has accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.
     This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ, the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them; and the nature of the covenant of grace: from all which arises also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
     Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalence of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins; and for a time continue therein; whereby they incur God's s displeasure, and grieve his Holy Spirit: come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts: have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded; hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.

 Phil. 1:6; 2 Pet. 1:10; John 10:28,29; 1 John 3:9; 1 Pet. 1:5,9. 2 Tim. 2:18,19; Jer. 31:3. Heb. 10:10,14, 13:20,21, 9:12–15; Rom. 8:33–39; John 17:11,24; Luke 22:32; Heb. 7:25.  John 14:16,17; 1 John 2:27; 3:9. Jer. 32:40.  John 10:28;
2 Thess. 3:3; 1 John 2:19.  Matt. 26:70,72,74.   Ps. 51:14.  Isa. 64:5,7,9; 2 Sam. 11:27.  Eph. 4:30.  Ps. 51:8,10,12;
Rev. 2:4; Cant. 5:2–4,6.  Isa 63:17;   Mark 6:52; 16:14.  Ps. 32:3,4; 51:8. 2 Sam. 12:14.  Ps. 89:31,32; 1 Cor. 11:32.

Question: What does 'Perseverance of the Saints' mean?

     It means that if God has elected you to salvation, He will never remove you and will not allow you to be removed from His family. It means your eternal salvation is secured.

Question: What are the basic principals this chapter teaches?

     1. The true believer, having been once regenerated and justified by God, can never afterward totally nor finally fall away
         from grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end.

      2. That the principle is not in any way dependent upon the free will of the believer, but is totally dependent
            -In the inherent immutability of the eternal decree of election
                -Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess 2:13; Acts 13:48
           -In the provisions of the eternal covenant of grace
                -Jer. 32:40
           -In the merits and intercession of Christ
                -John 17:11,15,20      John 11:42            Heb. 7:25
           -In the constant indwelling and preserving power of the Holy Spirit.
                -John 14:16   Eph. 1:13,14; 2 Cor. 1:22

Question: What is the Arminian position on Eternal Security?

     -That God elects persons to eternal life only on condition of their voluntary reception of grace and perseverance till death, as foreseen by him.

      -That Christ died to provide a way of salvation for all men generally and not to provide salvation for some men specifically.

      -That the Holy Spirit influences all men.  The reason why one believes and is regenerated,  and another continues in sin apart from God, is that the former voluntarily cooperates with   grace and that the other  resists it.

      -Arminians depend upon the free will of the creature. So, neither the decree of God, nor the atonement of Christ, nor the grace of the Holy Ghost determines the certain salvation of any individual. but the free will choice of man.

      -Therefore it follows that the perseverance of any man in this grace once received must also depend entirely upon his own will. Since man  is essentially fallible and capable of    change, it follows, that the believer is at all times liable to completely fall away from God    by neglecting the grace of God or by grieving the Spirit of God by willful sin. If he were to die in that state, he would go to Hell.

  -Biblical examples
       -King Saul. Anointed by God to be King and when he sinned God did not hear his  prayer (1 Sam.28:6)
        God rejected him as king.
       -Judas.  Chosen by Jesus as one of the 12.
       -Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5)
       -Hymenaeus and Alexander ( 1 Tim. 1:19-20)
       -Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Tim. 2:16-18)
       -Demas (2 Tim. 4:10)

Read: Matt. 24:3-14; Heb. 6:4-6; 1 Cor. 10:12

Question: What is the Calvinist position?

     -God has revealed his gracious purpose to cause every true believer to persevere in his faith and obedience till death.

     -God effectually calls and sanctifies by His Spirit. Since salvation is a work of God to loose it would have to be a work
      from God as well. God says, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'. (Heb. 13:5)

     -That he will never be allowed to fall away totally from grace, and therefore he never can go to Hell once saved by God's
      grace.

     -We persevere by God's grace and not our own free will.

     -We are weak and unable to withstand temptation and sin.

     -God's grace is sufficient to give us victory in Christ.

    -Based on our Union with Christ
          -John 15:1-11

Read: 1 Peter 1:5, Phil 1:6; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:31-39, 11:29, Prov. 12:3; John 14:16; John 3:36, 5:24; 1 Peter 1:3-5

Question: Do the Parables of the 'Wheat and tares, and Sheep and Goats' have anything to contribute to understanding
                  this doctrine?

Read: Matt. 7:21-23, 1 Jn 2:19, Matt. 13:21

     There are those in the church who PROFESS Christ and may even act and look Christian, BUT, the truth is they may not POSSESS Christ in their heart.  Eternal Salvation, the Perseverance of the Saints is the blessing of the true Children of God, in Christ.

Question: Does 'Perseverance of the Saints' means that true Believers will never fall away from Christ?

    No. It means they will never totally and forever fall away.  We may fall into serious sin and receive difficult chastening from the Lord. BUT God promises to forgive their backsliding or falling away.

Read: Hosea 14:4

     While Heb. 6 says that true Believer CAN fall away, John 10 says that they WILL NOT. There is a logical possibility for apostasy but in the case of the True Believer, it will not happen.  Heb. 6 and John 10 must be taken together.

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